Origin: Latin suffix -ment
Complement has 9 different meanings across 2 categories:
a word or phrase used to complete a grammatical construction
"The preposition "to" acts as a complement that completes the verb "commit.""
something added to complete or embellish or make perfect
"a fine wine is a perfect complement to the dinner"
"wild rice was served as an accompaniment to the main dish"
one of a series of enzymes in the blood serum that are part of the immune response
"The scientist analyzed how various complement proteins work together to destroy invading bacteria."
either of two parts that mutually complete each other
"The dark blue shirt and beige scarf complement each other perfectly, creating a balanced look where both items feel necessary to the whole outfit."
Something (or someone) that completes; the consummation.
"The final piece of music served as a perfect complement to the evening's celebration, bringing it to its natural conclusion."
In plain English: A complement is something that completes another thing and makes it whole.
"The wine was a perfect complement to the cheese course."
Usage: Use complement as a noun or verb when something adds value by making another thing more perfect or complete, such as wine being a good complement to food. Do not confuse it with "complete," which means finished in itself rather than enhancing something else.
make complete or perfect; supply what is wanting or form the complement to
"I need some pepper to complement the sweet touch in the soup"
To complete, to bring to perfection, to make whole.
"The golden necklace perfectly complemented her elegant evening gown."
In plain English: To complement something means to add an extra part that makes it better or more complete by fitting perfectly with what is already there.
"Her scarf perfectly complemented her blue dress."
The word comes from the Old French compliment, borrowed into Middle English, and originally meant "something that makes something else whole." It entered modern usage as a doublet of "complement," derived directly from Latin for things that fill up or complete another part.